NSW Government committed to protecting South Coast abalone fishery

The NSW Government has implemented a range of measures aimed at protecting the long-term sustainability of the South Coast abalone fishery.

The NSW Government has acted decisively in taking urgent steps to protect abalone stocks, which have now reached critical levels due to a combination of natural environmental changes, the effects of the Perkinsus parasite, and illegal fishing.

These steps include a reduction in the total allowable catch for commercial abalone fishers and the bag limit for recreational fishers, which came into effect on July 1.

The reductions were based on the latest science, including annual surveys of the abundance of abalone stocks at key sites. The decision to reduce the commercial catch was made by the independent Total Allowable Catch Committee, which includes leading experts in fisheries science, economics and management.

In addition an independent taskforce has been established which will review the reductions and make recommendations on the directions for the fishery.

The taskforce will also identify strategies to help the abalone industry plan and adjust for significant variations in the availability of abalone stocks and market prices.

It will be chaired by Dr John Keniry, who is also the chairman of the Ministerial Advisory Council for Primary Industry Science. He will be assisted by advisers from the commercial, recreational and indigenous fishing sectors.

The taskforce will report in October.

Other measures to protect the abalone fishery include:

• A tenfold increase in the fines for illegal fishing and increased training for NSW Fisheries officers in criminal investigations, in response to the Palmer report
• Ongoing surveillance and compliance programs to stamp out abalone theft. Last year Fisheries officers on the South Coast seized more than 11,800 abalone destined for the black market
• The establishment of a hotline to report illegal fishing activity, and rewards of up to $1000 for any reports leading to a conviction
• The purchase of a new patrol boat, which will be used in operations targeting illegal fishing on the South Coast
• Research into the Perkinsus parasite, which will assist future management of abalone populations
• The government has introduced savings for abalone licence holders of up to $20,000 a year by cutting fees they have to pay to continue to have privileged access to this valuable community resource.